Game



May 28, 1935.

J. A. FIONDELLA GAME Filed May 24, 1952 Patented May 28, 1935 s PATENTOFFICE GAME Jean A. Fiondella,

East Haven, Conn.

Application May 24, 1932, Serial No. 613,185

One of the objects of my present invention is to provide superior andattractive means whereby both entertainment and physical exercise may beafforded a player or players at a relatively low cost. e Other objectsin part will'appear from the fol lowing. r a

In one of its phases, my invention contemplates both a novel game-pieceto be tossed or flipped and a novelrod-like memb r which may be employedfor tossing or flipping the first-mentioned game-piece or the like.

The-game-piece to be tossed or flipped may assume a variety of forms, ineach of which, however, it has certain novel characteristics as willappear from the following and be more clearly set forth in certain ofthe appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. l is a perspective view illustrating a flipping-stick in positionto flip one of the dumb-bell shaped game-pieces;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one of the dumbbell shaped game-pieces;

Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal sectional View thereof;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a ring-like gamepiece;

Fig. 5 is a view thereof partly in central horizontal section and partlyin plan;

Fig. 6 is a broken perspective view of the lower end of a flipping-sticklike that shown in Fig. l; and

Fig. '7 is a similar view illustrating one of the several other formswhich the lower end of a flipping-stick may assume.

In Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawing, I have shown adumb-bell shaped gamepiece generally designated by the numeral l0 andcomprising a pair of complementary spaced-apart bulbous members i l and52 joined together by a connecting-member l3 and constituting thebulbous terminals thereof. Preferably, the bulbous members H and i2 andthe connecting-member l3 of the game-piece it? are formed as a unit fromsponge rubber, so as to provide a relatively high degree of resiliencyto the said bulbous members in particular. Preferably, also, I providethe connecting-member 13 with an axially-arranged stiffening-wire orequivalent M which at its respective opposite ends extends partway intoeach of the bulbous members H and i2 and serves to reduce theflexibility of the connecting-member i 3 to facilitate the more orless'accurate flipping of the game-piece it] as will appear from thefollowing.

While the game piece it above described may be used in a variety ofways, I prefer to employ a flipping-stick l5 for flipping the same. Thesaid flipping-stick may be formed of bamboo or more or less flexiblemetal-tubing,'etc.,,and is, as shown, provided at its upper end with ahandgrlp I6 andat its lower end with a flipping-head I! which latterterminates at its lower end.- in an amiular flange 18 into which thesurface of the head l't' proper merges, as at 19.

By placing the flipping-head bulbous members H and I 2 of the game-pieceI!) in close proximity to the connecting-member [3 thereof, the saidgame-piece may be flipped or-tossed at a targetor at a markedoff spaceon a lawn or beach as may be desired.

Owing to the fact that the bulbous terminals i I and I2 serve to spacethe connecting-member I3 sufficiently above the surface upon which thegame-piece rests to permit the lower end of a flipping-stick to beengaged with the said connecting-member, remarkable accuracy may beattained in the flipping of the said game-piece at or toward a desiredpoint.

As above pointed out, the bulbous terminal members H and I2 of thegame-piece ID are resilient and when the game-piece is flipped andlands, it will not, if the game is being played outdoors, dig intoeither a lawn or beach sand to an undesirable degree. If the game isplayed indoors, by children, for instance, the resiliency of the bulbousterminal members referred to will serve to prevent damage to furniture,etc., which the game-piece may strike. If composed of resilient materialof less specific gravity than water, such as sponge rubber, as I prefer,the gamepiece I0 will also have sufficient buoyancy to float, should itinadvertently strike the water during outdoor games.

Instead of shaping the game-piece more or less like a dumb-bell, I mayshape the same in the form of a ring or quoit, as shown in Figs. 4 and5. In the flgures referred to, the quoit-like game-piece, which isgenerally designated by the numeral 2!], consists of a ring 2|preferably formed of relatively-stiff rubbertubing and having mountedthereon at equidistant points three (more or less) bulbous members 22,23 and 24 formed, as shown, of sponge rubber preferably vulcanized orcemented in place upon the said ring 2| and serving to space the 11between the same above the surface upon which the gamepiece lies andalso acting as bufiers to prevent injury to furniture, lawns, etc.

The game-piece 20 may be flipped in much the same manner as thegame-piece Iii already referred to, or it may be thrown by hand in themanner of an ordinary quoit, but in any event the bulbous membersreferred to will serve to a remarkable and unexpected degree to preventinjury to a lawn, etc., or to prevent the game-piece from becomingburied in the sand, should the game be played upon a beach. Furthermore,I have found that regardless of what manner of surface the game-piece 20is thrown or flipped upon, it has the property of halting practicallyimmediately upon landing, rather than slddding along the surface, as isthe case with an ordinary quoit, with the result that fortunate breaksso-called, in a game in which the gamepiece 2B is employed, are largelyavoided and the game resolves itself mainly into a question of skill.

When formed of sponge rubber, the surfaces of the bulbous members H andl2, and 22, 23 and 2 4 are preferably provided with a relatively-smoothouter skin 25, which serves to render the same tougher and waterproof.

Returning now to a further discussion of the flipping-stick 5, the headI! thereof, instead of being circular in cross-section, may, as shown inFig. 7, be of polygonal form in cross-section to provide four (more orless) definite faces 26, any one of which may be placed substantially'flatwise against either the connectingmember l3 or the ring 2| of thegame-pieces l0 and 20 respectively for flipping or tossing the latter. 77

'It will be understood by those skilled in the art that my invention mayassume varied physical forms without departing from my inventiveconcept, and I, therefore, do not limit myself to the specificembodiments herein chosen for illustration, but only as indicated in theappended claims.

I claim:

1. A game apparatus comprising: a game piece having a plurality ofbulbous members spaced from each other and interconnected to form aunitary structure by means of a connecting-member extending therebetweenand of relatively-smaller size; and a flipping-stick having a terminalflipping-flange at its lower end of a thickness not greater thanone-half the difierence between the diameter of the connecting-memberand the diameter of a bulbous member and designed and constructed to beengaged under the lowest part of said connecting-member when saidgame-piece is resting on a surface, and flip said game-piece.

2. A game apparatus comprising: a gamepiece having a plurality ofresilient bulbous members spaced from each other and interconnected toform a unitary structure by means of a connecting-member extendingtherebetween and of relatively-smaller size, the said bulbous membersbeing buoyant to enable the game-piece to float upon water; and aflipping-stick having a terminal flipping-flange at its lower end I of athickness not greater than one-half the difference between the diameterof the connecting-member and the diameter of a bulbous member anddesigned and constructed to be engaged under the lowest part of saidconnectingmember when said game-piece is resting on a surface, and flipsaid game-piece.

JEAN A. FIONDELLA.

